At the upper right of this blog is the Isak Dineson quote: "the cure for anything is salt: sweat, tears, or the sea." I've spoken a lot about sweat and tears, but not a lot about the sea. And the sea here actually seems to be curing a few of my injuries. I arrived here with a friend who had a minor case of plantar fasciitis, and the cold, salty ocean made his foot feel so much better! It's like taking an ice bath with Epsom salts.
Many of the restaurants here cater to tourists. The menus rarely have anything besides sandwiches, burgers, salads, and for some strange reason, a plethora of omelets. We didn't really find any authentic Portuguese cuisine until yesterday, at a small roadside cafe, sitting on plastic seats and watching the road. I had seabass, served with a small side salad and covered in the loveliest spices. Apparently, Portugal was originally the home of the spice trade, and we could tell from yesterday's lunch.
Otherwise, for me, the eating here has been quite a transition. I am used to eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, all fresh, and low-glycemic breads like Ezekiel bread. In most Portuguese supermarkets they sell mostly three staples: fish, bread, and candy. A favorite snack my companions have discovered: bacon-flavored chips. They're very flavorful and light, nothing like American chips.
Today in our garden we watched as the tiniest hummingbird flitted among our flowers. It was no bigger than a dragonfly.
It's important during the off-season to get away from your work, and important for artists to explore new places. I've been very inspired by our time in Portugal. It is a beautiful, and slightly run down place. When we are driving we often see abandoned buildings, ruins on beautiful landscapes. New York and our work seems worlds away.
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